Aoudad Sheep

Aoudad Sheep

The only wild sheep from their native land in Africa, the aoudad stands about 40 inches at the shoulder. It has a fringe of long, soft hair hanging from its throat and forequarters, commonly called, "chaps" and has semicircular horns that curve outward, back, and then inward over the neck.

Both chaps and horns are more pronounced in the male. The aoudad lives in dry, mountainous or broken country and is well suited to the Texas climate and terrain. There are free-roaming herds in Palo Duro Canyon State Park located in the Panhandle of Texas. It associates in small family groups, and can go without water for about five days. When threatened, the aoudad stands motionless and is concealed by its tawny brown coat, which blends with the surrounding rocks.